Framers Digest, Vol 5, Issue 23

[Keith Smyth]

   RE: Paragraph tag with Frame below
   At my last contract (I am retired now), we put "This page added for
   pagination purposes" on the otherwise blank page, headers and footers
   included. Received compliments from the customers, as it made more sense to
   them that "This page intentionally left blank" and no reason given.

...and of course I forgot to include the link the first time = ugh!

[1]http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A676280


The writer of this piece is close when they write 'Some theorise that it is a *
koan*, a statement devoid of meaning designed to bring the minds of those that
read it to a higher state of being.' In fact, the point is that a completely bl
ank page is representative of the Ultimate Void, a state of Complete Nothingnes
s - and this scares those who have not yet reached the aforementioned higher st
ate of being. A completely blank page just looks *wrong*, it's deeply unsettlin
g.

I have more than often been asked to add an 'intentionally left blank' logo, be
cause 'otherwise our readers will think it's a mistake'. The issue arises regul
arly with blank trailing pages of chapters of books where the chapter opener fa
lls on a right-hand page.

So, folks, don't terrify your readers - at least add a page number, which can r
epresent the sound of one hand clapping in the Void ;-)

If clients demand more, I suggest a legally-watertight non-contradictory constr
uction along the lines of:

'This page is intentional left void of meaningful content other than this parag
raph, which, for the avoidance of doubt, represents content that is intended to
 denote only the absence of content'.


--
Keith L. Smyth
President
Smyth Consulting
-------------------------------------------------
Many times I really wonder whether a God
subtle enough to have invented Quantum
Mechanics would really be interested in having
people deliver rote prayers and swing incense
pots in his direction.
-------------------------------------------------
Technical Documentation Consultant

References

   1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A676280